1 Corinthians 7

1 Now for the matters about which you wrote me: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.

2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

3 The husband should render the affection due to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.

5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to fasting and to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.

7 For I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God, one in this way and another in that.

8 Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.

9 But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.

11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

13 And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called us to live in peace.

16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 Regardless, each one should lead the life that God has assigned to him and to which the Lord has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.

18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.

20 Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.

22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

24 Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.

25 Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

26 Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.

27 Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.

28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29 What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;

30 those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;

31 and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

32 I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he will please the Lord.

33 But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he will please his wife.

34 And there is a difference between the wife and the virgin. The unmarried woman is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she will please her husband.

35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.

36 However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.

37 But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.

38 So then, he who marries her does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.

39 A wife is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

40 In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

1 ¶ Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

5 Defraud ye not one the other, except [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

6 But I speak this by permission, [and] not of commandment.

7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 ¶ And unto the married I command, [yet] not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from [her] husband:

11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to [her] husband: and let not the husband put away [his] wife.

12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called us to peace.

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save [thy] husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save [thy] wife?

17 ¶ But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

21 Art thou called [being] a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use [it] rather.

22 For he that is called in the Lord, [being] a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, [being] free, is Christ's servant.

23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

25 ¶ Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, [I say], that [it is] good for a man so to be.

27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

29 But this I say, brethren, the time [is] short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

31 And they that use this world, as not abusing [it]: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please [his] wife.

34 There is difference [also] between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please [her] husband.

35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36 ¶ But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of [her] age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

38 So then he that giveth [her] in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth [her] not in marriage doeth better.

39 ¶ The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

1 But of whom ye wrote unto me, I answer, It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 But for fornication let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

3 Let the husband render unto the wife the friendship due, and likewise the wife unto the husband.

4 The woman is not mighty in her womb, but the man. In the same way, the man is not powerful in his body, but the woman is.

5 Withdraw not one from another, except it be by the consent of both for a season, that ye may have leisure for fasting and prayer: and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your unchastity.

6 But I say these things out of favour, and not out of commandment.

7 But I would rather all men were as I am: but every man hath his own gift from God, one so, and another so.

8 Though I say unto the single, and to widows, It is good for them, if they also abide as I abide.

9 But if they abstain not, let them be free: it is better to be free, than to be in heat.

10 Now unto the married, I command not, but the LORD, that the wife put not away her husband.

11 But if she separate, that she be left without marriage, or be reconciled to her husband, and that the husband put not away the wife.

12 But unto the rest I say, not unto the Lord, If a brother have an unbelieving wife, and she please to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 And if a woman have an unbelieving husband, and he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not put her away from him.

14 For the unbelieving man is sanctified through the woman, and the unbelieving woman is sanctified through the man. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

15 But if the unbeliever divorce himself, let him divorce himself. The brother or sister is not caught in such cases. But in peace God has called us.

16 But what knowest thou, O woman, whether thou wilt save the man? Or what knowest thou, O man, whether thou wilt save the woman?

17 But as God hath dealt to every man. Every man as the Lord hath called him, so let him walk. And so I do in all the churches.

18 If any man be called circumcised, let him not be circumcised. If any man be called in the foreskin, let him not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and the foreskin is nothing, but keeping God's commandments;

20 Let every man continue in the profession wherein he is called.

21 If thou art called a servant, be not anxious: but if thou canst be free, much more need it.

22 For he that is called a servant in the LORD is a soldier of the LORD: likewise he that is called a freeman is a servant of Christ.

23 Ye are dearly bought; become not the servants of men.

24 Every man, brethren, in that wherein he is called, let him abide with God.

25 But of virgins I have no commandment from the LORD: but I speak my mind, when I have obtained mercy of the LORD, to be faithful.

26 I think therefore that it is good for the present necessity, that it should be good for a man to be so.

27 If thou be bound unto a wife, seek not to be loosed: but if thou be loosed from a wife, seek no wife.

28 But if thou freest, thou sinest not: and if a virgin freeth, she sinneth not: but such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you gladly.

29 But this I say, brethren, that the time is short. And this is the opinion: They that have wives are as though they had none, and they that weep are as though they wept not,

30 And they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not,

31 And they that use this world, that they abuse it not: for the nature of this world passeth away.

32 But I would that ye were without care. He that is free, let him take heed to the things that belong unto the LORD, how he may please the LORD.

33 But he that is free careth for the things of the world, how he may please the woman. There is a difference between a woman and a virgin.

34 She that is not free careth for the things that pertain unto the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is free careth for the things that pertain unto the world, that she may please the man.

35 But these things say I for your profit; not that I cast a snare upon you, but that it may be fine, and that ye may serve the LORD always and freely.

36 But if any man think that it is not right with his virgin, because she is manly, and will not be otherwise, let him do what he will: he sinneth not, but letteth her go free.

37 But if any man, being at liberty, and having his own will, resolves in his heart to keep his virgin, he doeth well.

38 Finally, he that is married doeth well; but he that is not married doeth better.

39 A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband die, she is free to marry whom she will; only that it be done in the LORD.

40 But it is more blessed where it abideth, according to my opinion. But I hold, I also have the Spirit of God.